LONDON – A ticking time bomb looms for roughly 300,000 British households, where outdated Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters could grind to a halt by June 30, 2025, potentially cutting off heating and hot water. Energy companies are scrambling, but the clock’s running out, and the fix isn’t coming easy.
These RTS meters, relics of an older grid, rely on a radio signal to toggle between peak and off-peak electricity rates, a setup that’s been quietly humming in homes for decades. Come July 1, that signal gets axed, leaving meters useless. For those affected, it’s not just about higher bills—heaters could freeze up or, worse, stay stuck on, cooking homes and racking up costs. The energy watchdog Ofgem, in a stark warning on April 16, called it “an urgent consumer welfare issue,” pressing suppliers to hustle.
The scale’s daunting. As of late March, 430,000 households still depended on RTS meters for heating and hot water, according to industry group Energy UK. They’re swapping out about 1,000 meters daily, a frantic pace that’s climbed in recent weeks. But with just two months left, the math doesn’t add up. Ned Hammond, a senior figure at Energy UK, admitted on April 29 that hitting the deadline is “very, very difficult,” though he stopped short of calling it impossible. The industry’s been told to floor it, with the government demanding faster replacements on April 30.
Rural areas face the worst crunch. Engineers are spread thin, and campaigners warn that vulnerable households—think elderly or low-income families—could be left in the cold. The End Fuel Poverty Coalition, in a letter to ministers and Ofgem on April 28, flagged the lag in replacements, estimating over 300,000 homes could be stranded with dead meters. Unlike regular electricity, which powers lights and sockets, RTS meters control separate circuits for heating and water, so the fallout hits those systems hard.
Ofgem’s been clear: the switch-off won’t mess with basic power like plug sockets. Still, the stakes are high. The government, in a statement on April 30, leaned on energy firms to “work urgently” and boost replacement rates. Suppliers, for their part, are pushing smart meters as the fix, but rolling them out at this scale, with time slipping away, is a logistical beast.
Households are urged to check their meters now. If you’ve got an RTS setup, contact your supplier fast to book a smart meter swap. Waiting could mean a chilly summer—or a sweltering one, if your heating won’t shut off. The deadline’s firm: June 30, 2025. After that, it’s lights on, but maybe no heat.